Warren Fondrie, formerly of Vass, N.C., pleaded guilty in Moore County (N.C.) Superior Court on April 14 to 12 counts of selling counterfeit golf equipment through the eBay Internet site. Fondrie was charged with criminal use of counterfeit trademarks by the North Carolina Secretary of State’s Trademark Enforcement Division, following an investigation that state officials said uncovered a major product counterfeiting operation headquartered in Moore County.
Fondrie was one of three defendants charged in December 2007 after Acushnet Company initiated an investigation with the North Carolina Secretary of State’s Office. The case against Donald Fondrie is still pending and the third defendant, Pei-i Chou, is presently in the custody of immigration authorities; he is expected to be deported back to Taiwan.
Acushnet Company, which includes the Titleist, FootJoy and Cobra golf equipment brands, played an integral part in the arrests by alerting and working with the North Carolina authorities. Acushnet managers had observed counterfeit golf products being sold on eBay and conducted an internal investigation prior to presenting the matter to the North Carolina Secretary of State’s Office. A two-month investigation resulted in allegations that the Fondries operated an Internet-based site that sold fake brand-name golfing gear imported from Asia.
It was then determined that the products were being sold both domestically and internationally on a “store site” on eBay, the large online auction company. Postal authorities monitored shipping traffic connected to the case, while law enforcement used eBay records to track sales. Thousands of fake golf products were seized, including counterfeit Titleist, Cobra and Scotty Cameron products, among other brands.
Warren Fondrie was sentenced to 60 to 80 months in prison. Fondrie will not have to serve the time, however, if he complies with all of the terms of his probation, which includes paying restitution of more than $253,338 to the victims. If he fails to comply, his probation will be revoked and he could go to prison as a result.
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